What Is Permanent Press? Washer and Dryer Cycles Explained

Permanent press is a fabric finish that keeps clothes smooth and holds pressed-in creases, and the washer and dryer setting made for clothes like that. On a washer, the setting means a cool-down or cold rinse before reduced (shorter or slower) spinning (FTC); on a dryer, it usually means medium heat followed by a cool-down tumble (American Cleaning Institute).

No permanent press setting? Use a warm wash, cold rinse and short spin, as the University of Georgia Extension care-label guide advises. And unload the dryer as soon as it stops: the FTC defines "remove promptly" as taking items out when dry, to prevent wrinkling.

Key takeaways

• Washer: permanent press means a cool or cold rinse, then gentler spinning than Normal.
• Dryer: usually medium heat (about 135°F in Whirlpool's version), then a no-heat cool-down; Delicate runs cooler.
• Use it for synthetics, blends and dress clothes; use Normal or Heavy Duty for towels and jeans, and Delicate for machine-washable silk, wool and lingerie.
• Whirlpool and Maytag washers take about 15-40 minutes on Quick Wash, 50-80 on Normal and 90-120 on Sanitize; a dryer load takes about 45 minutes.
• Laundromat washers run fixed cycles of about 26-30 minutes on one maker's factory settings, and dryer coins buy minutes.

What does permanent press mean?

Permanent press means two related things: a fabric finish that keeps clothes smooth through washing and drying, and the machine setting built to care for it. The FTC's care-label glossary treats "durable press" and "permanent press" as one term, and control panels often shorten it to Perm Press (Speed Queen).

The finish came out of USDA research that began in the 1950s (USDA). Chemist Ruth Benerito's team cross-linked cotton's cellulose molecules so the fabric doesn't readily wrinkle, then refined the process into durable or permanent press, which added lasting creases (USDA).

Related finishes differ. The University of Georgia Extension guide says permanent press keeps sharp creases and pleats, wrinkle-resistant fabric won't take heat-set creases, and wash-and-wear dries smooth but holds no creases.

What does machine wash permanent press mean?

It means wash the garment on the permanent press cycle, at the temperature the label gives. The American Cleaning Institute's symbol chart reads one example as "Wash in warm water on permanent press cycle" and shows that bars under the washtub or dryer square set the cycle: no bar for Normal, one bar for Permanent Press, two bars for Delicate/Gentle. Our laundry symbols guide shows each symbol.

What does "pressed" mean in laundry?

"Pressed" means smoothed and shaped with heat, moisture and pressure from an iron, as UF/IFAS Extension defines pressing. The same guide says to iron a polyester-cotton blend on the permanent press setting, which is cooler than the cotton setting.

Permanent press clothes mostly skip that step: the University of Georgia Extension guide says they need no ironing when tumble-dried with a cool-down and removed promptly. For crisp shirts anyway, see how to iron a dress shirt, or use a cleaner or laundromat that offers professional pressing.

What does permanent press mean on a washer?

On a washer, permanent press means a cool-down or cold rinse before reduced spinning, in the FTC's definition. Maytag says its version uses warm water and slower spins to release existing wrinkles and keep new ones from setting.

Spin speed varies: Whirlpool's page gives both a slower spin and a normal spin speed with a longer cool-down rinse, and says methods vary by model. The cool rinse is the constant.

On Speed Queen's TR7 top-loader, every rinse is cold unless you choose Warm/Warm, and the manual notes that cold rinses reduce wrinkling. Unload as soon as the cycle ends: Whirlpool, whose front-loaders call the cycle Casual or Wrinkle Control, says damp clothes left packed in the drum set wrinkles.

What if your washer has no permanent press cycle?

Look for another name first: Casual, Wrinkle Reduction or Wrinkle Control on Maytag washers, or Active-Wear on one Whirlpool top-loader, which rinses cold on every cycle.

Otherwise, use the warm wash, cold rinse and short spin that University of Georgia Extension recommends. For what "warm" means in degrees, see our wash temperature guide.

What does permanent press mean on a dryer?

On a dryer, permanent press usually means medium heat and then a cool-down of tumbling without heat (American Cleaning Institute). Whirlpool puts its version at about 135°F, noting that temperatures vary by model.

The cool-down is the point. Maytag says it keeps clothes from settling into wrinkles in the drum, and leaving clothes in a hot, stopped dryer can set permanent wrinkles in triacetate (UGA Extension). GE Appliances says polyester knits and permanent press should be removed promptly so wrinkles won't set in.

No Permanent Press cycle? On one Whirlpool model the equivalent, Wrinkle Control, defaults to Low heat, so check your manual.

Is perm press hotter than regular on a dryer?

Usually not. On current GE Appliances dryers, Casuals (permanent press) runs at Medium, below the Regular cotton setting and above Delicates, and Whirlpool says its permanent press uses a lower temperature than regular cycles. Here is GE's ladder:

An older GE Appliances manual labels the same settings High, Medium, Low and No Heat. The American Cleaning Institute calls the Normal dryer cycle medium heat too, so on some dryers the cool-down is the main difference.

Is permanent press the same as wrinkle release?

No. Permanent press dries a wet load; wrinkle-release features smooth clothes that are already dry or keep a finished load moving (Whirlpool).

• Steam refresh: 20 to 30 minutes for 1 to 4 items on Speed Queen dryers.
• Dewrinkle: a GE Appliances setting for clean items that are dry or barely damp; the GTD45 runs it for 20 minutes (GE product page).
• Wrinkle Prevent: up to 150 minutes of tumbling after the cycle ends, on select Maytag dryers.

Will clothes shrink on perm press?

They can. Whirlpool says perm press is gentler because it runs cooler, but to check the care label. Maytag notes that cotton and wool fibers constrict in heat, and wool is damaged by dry heat (UGA Extension).

For cotton, research points to tumbling and over-drying more than the heat dial. A 2003 study in the Journal of the Textile Institute found the temperature setting had no effect on cotton shrinkage. In a second study by the same team, two of three cotton knits shrank fastest once their moisture fell below 30%, in a similar pattern with or without heat (International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology).

So use a sensor cycle on Less Dry or Near Dry, as Speed Queen advises to prevent over-drying, and air dry anything prone to shrinking (American Cleaning Institute). See which fabrics shrink.

Permanent press vs. normal vs. delicate: which cycle should you use?

Use Normal for everyday cottons and mixed loads (American Cleaning Institute; Maytag), permanent press for synthetics, blends and wrinkle-prone dress clothes, and Delicate for silk, lace, wool and lingerie (Maytag). The table draws on the Maytag and Whirlpool cycle guides.

What is better, normal or perm press?

Neither; they do different jobs, and Maytag designs Normal to be the most energy-efficient cycle. Perm press uses gentler action to limit wrinkles: on Speed Queen's TR7 it runs 36 minutes with medium agitation and a medium final spin, against about 48 minutes with high agitation and a high spin on Normal Eco.

Is permanent press a gentle cycle?

Compared with Normal, yes, but it is not as gentle as Delicate. Whirlpool says permanent press may not be gentle enough for fragile fabrics, and Maytag calls it no substitute for the Delicate cycle.

Can you wash all clothes on permanent press?

Most washable clothes can go through it, Whirlpool says, but these need something else:

• Towels, jeans and dirty work clothes: Normal, Heavy Duty or Towels (Whirlpool); see our towel guide and how to wash jeans.
• Machine-washable silk, lace, wool and lingerie: Delicate (Maytag); check the label first, and see how to wash delicates.
• "Hand wash" labels: wash by hand in lukewarm water (University of Georgia Extension).
• "Dry clean only" labels: no wash cycle at all, since the FTC says the garment can't be safely washed; see what to dry clean.
• "Tumble dry low" or "no heat" labels: low heat or none, as the FTC defines them, so dry on Delicates or Air Fluff (GE Appliances), not perm press.

How long does a washing machine take?

On Whirlpool and Maytag washers, Normal takes about 50 to 80 minutes, Quick Wash 15 to 40, and Sanitize or Heavy Duty about 2 hours or a little more (Whirlpool; Maytag). The perm press times come from their cycle guides, as do Maytag's bedding, heavy duty and rinse & spin times (Whirlpool; Maytag).

Washer type matters: in Consumer Reports tests on a normal, heavy-soil setting, front-loaders took 65 to 120 minutes and most agitator top-loaders 35 to 70. Our front-load vs. top-load guide covers the other trade-offs.

Why do washing machines take so long?

Mostly the load, and the corrections a washer makes mid-cycle. LG and Whirlpool list these causes:

• Big or heavy loads take longer to soak, drain and spin: LG's guide puts the initial wash on a front-loader's cotton cycle at about 32-39 minutes for 2.2-6.6 pounds but 84-94 minutes for 15.4-24.2 pounds.
• Too many suds: LG washers drain and refill to clear them, adding about 12 minutes each time.
• Unbalanced loads make the drum slow down and tumble to redistribute them, and tightly packed loads also lengthen the cycle.
• Options such as extra rinse, steam or high temperature add time (LG).

Efficiency doesn't explain it in US data: the U.S. Department of Energy found no discernible link between a washer's efficiency level and its cycle time.

How long is 1 minute on a washing machine?

Sometimes much longer, because the countdown is an estimate. Whirlpool says excess suds or an unbalanced load can hold the display on one number for a long time, or make it jump to zero. Using only HE detergent in an HE washer avoids the extra rinses that over-sudsing triggers.

Does a 20- or 30-minute wash clean clothes?

Yes for a few lightly soiled items; a full or dirty load may not come out fully clean. The American Cleaning Institute says Quick Wash cleans small loads in under 30 minutes, and Maytag sizes it for 2 to 4 garments.

Both Whirlpool and Maytag warn that overloading a quick cycle or using it on heavy soil can leave clothes less clean. In a one-machine test, CHOICE found a quick program fast "at the expense of wash performance."

Which wash cycle is the longest?

On Whirlpool and Maytag washers, Sanitize and Heavy Duty usually run longest, at up to 2 to 2 1/4 hours (Whirlpool; Maytag), though Maytag's Whites cycle can reach 2 hours 50 minutes (Maytag).

Sanitize uses extra-hot water, and ENERGY STAR advises using it only when needed, since water heating is about 90% of a washer's energy use.

How long does a dryer take?

A typical dryer load takes about 45 minutes: as little as 15 minutes for a small load on Delicate or Low, and up to 3 hours for a big load of towels and blankets (Maytag; Whirlpool).

Sensor cycles stop when the load reaches the dryness you choose, while Timed Dry runs a set 15, 30, 60 or 90 minutes on one Whirlpool dryer. ENERGY STAR says sensor drying saves energy and prevents wear from over-drying. To dry faster:

• Don't overload: fewer items get more airflow (Whirlpool).
• Clean the lint filter after every load for airflow and safety (ENERGY STAR); our dryer safety guide covers lint and vents.
• Clear blocked vents, inside and out (Maytag).
• Use a high spin in the washer when the fabric allows (not for permanent press or delicates), which leaves less water to dry out (ENERGY STAR).

What settings do laundromat washers and dryers have?

At a coin laundry, you choose a water temperature and, on many machines, a fabric type; the washer then runs a fixed cycle its owner programs (Alliance Laundry Systems).

How long do laundromat washers take?

About 26 to 30 minutes on the factory settings from Alliance Laundry Systems, maker of Speed Queen Commercial and Huebsch:

• Top-load coin washers: Normal, Perm Press and Delicates, about 29, 28 and 27 minutes; in the factory timing only the final spin time differs (Alliance Laundry Systems).
• Front-load coin washers: Normal, Synthetic (perm press) and Delicate, 30, 28 and 26 minutes; Deluxe or Ultra can add a prewash, extra rinse or warm rinse for a higher price (Alliance Laundry Systems).
• Temperature-only washers: on Dexter Laundry's T600 you pick Hot, Warm or Cold, and the display shows the cycle time after you press Start.

Which laundromat button matches your home cycle?

At a self-service laundromat, pick the button that does the same job, at the temperature the care label gives. Extra-cost options stand in for Heavy Duty: Alliance's Medium and Heavy soil pads can add wash time, rinse time or a warm rinse (Alliance Laundry Systems), and Deluxe or Ultra adds a prewash (Alliance Laundry Systems).

Comforters need extra water to soak fully (Whirlpool), so a large-capacity washer helps: more than 4,000 laundromats in the LaundroMaps directory that list their machine types report having them, as of October 2026 (LaundroMaps directory data). See how to wash a comforter at a laundromat, and our laundromat machine guide for each machine type.

How long do laundromat dryers take?

As long as you pay for. On the vended dryer in the Alliance Laundry Systems manual, the factory cycle is 45 minutes, each coin adds minutes the owner sets, a cycle tops out at 99 minutes, and a pricier setting can only be chosen in the first 5 minutes.

The same dryer's High, Med, Low and Delicates settings run at 160°F, 155°F, 145°F and 115°F by factory default, and No Heat tumbles without heat (Alliance Laundry Systems). By name, Med matches the medium heat the American Cleaning Institute gives for a home perm press cycle, but at 155°F it runs hotter than the roughly 135°F Whirlpool gives for its home version. Choose Low or Delicates for heat-sensitive fabrics (American Cleaning Institute), and the lower setting whenever you're unsure (Whirlpool).

The factory cool-down is just 3 minutes, with extended tumble off, so unload permanent press as soon as the drum stops (Alliance Laundry Systems).

Bring enough coins (see how many quarters you need), then find a laundromat near you.

Frequently asked questions

Does permanent press take out wrinkles?

It mostly keeps new wrinkles from setting. Maytag says the warm wash and slower spin also help release existing ones, but wrinkles already set in dry clothes need a steam refresh or dewrinkle setting, or an iron for stubborn creases.

Does putting clothes back in the dryer get rid of wrinkles?

Often, for light wrinkles in clean, dry clothes: that is what dewrinkle and steam refresh settings are for. Hang or fold the clothes as soon as the dryer stops.

What is the difference between a quick wash and a normal wash cycle on a washing machine?

Quick Wash runs about 15 to 40 minutes for a few lightly soiled items; Normal takes about 50 to 80 minutes on Whirlpool and Maytag washers and handles everyday loads. A full or dirty load on Quick Wash may not come out fully clean.

What is permanent press vs perm press?

They are the same setting. Perm Press is the short label on many control panels, durable press is the other name the FTC lists, and some machines call it Casual, Wrinkle Control or Synthetic.

What temperature is permanent press?

Usually warm water in the washer (or whatever the care label gives), then a cold or cool-down rinse. In the dryer it usually uses medium heat; Whirlpool puts its perm press at about 135°F. Laundromat dryers can run hotter (one maker's factory Medium is 155°F), so pick Low when unsure.

When not to use permanent press?

Skip it for heavily soiled towels, jeans and work clothes (use Normal or Heavy Duty), for machine-washable silk, lace, wool and lingerie (use Delicate), and for hand-wash or dry-clean-only labels. In the dryer, skip it for anything labeled tumble dry low or no heat: use Delicate/Low or Air Fluff.

How we researched this

We read the FTC's Care Labeling Rule, extension guides from the University of Georgia and UF/IFAS, the American Cleaning Institute, USDA, ENERGY STAR and Department of Energy pages, two peer-reviewed dryer-shrinkage studies, Consumer Reports and CHOICE test reports, and the manuals, cycle guides and help pages that washer and dryer makers publish for their own machines; 43 of them are cited here. Where sources disagree (spin speed, dryer heat, what drives shrinkage), we say so and give the safer reading. Cycle times vary by model: we report published figures and did not time or test machines ourselves. Researched October 14, 2026.

Sources

• Federal Trade Commission (16 CFR Part 423, eCFR) -- Care Labeling of Textile Wearing Apparel and Certain Piece Goods, Appendix A: Glossary of Standard Terms
• American Cleaning Institute -- Laundry Basics
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (4-H) -- Facts About Clothing: A Guide for Cotton Boll and Consumer Jamboree (JM-02)
• Speed Queen (Alliance Laundry Systems) -- User's Guide for Topload Washers (TR7)
• USDA Agricultural Research Service -- Cotton Gets Nanotech and Biotech Treatment in New Orleans (Agricultural Research magazine, April 2012)
• USDA Agricultural Research Service -- Cross-Linking Cotton (Agricultural Research magazine, February 2009)
• American Cleaning Institute -- Fabric Care Language Made Easy! Your Guide to Fabric Care Symbols (PDF)
• University of Florida IFAS Extension -- Life Skills in a Minute: Ironing versus Pressing (4H415)
• Maytag -- Washing Machine Cycles and Settings Explained
• Whirlpool -- What Is the Permanent Press Cycle?
• Maytag -- Permanent Press vs. Delicate: What's the Difference?
• Whirlpool -- Washer Cycle Guide (W11428623 Rev C, top-load washer)
• University of Georgia Cooperative Extension -- Understand Your Fibers
• Whirlpool -- Use & Care Guide: Smart Electronic Dryer (W10722883)
• GE Appliances -- GE 7.2 cu. ft. Capacity Electric Dryer with Sensor Dry (GTD45EASJWS) specifications
• Higgins, Anand, Hall and Holmes, International Journal of Clothing Science and Technology (2003) -- Factors during tumble drying that influence dimensional stability and distortion of cotton knitted fabrics
• Maytag -- Permanent Press vs. Normal Wash Cycles
• GE Appliances -- Dryer Owner's Manual (49-9874)
• Whirlpool -- Dryer Cycle Guide (W11423872 Rev C)
• GE Appliances -- Dryers Owner's Manual (49-90543-2)
• Speed Queen (Alliance Laundry Systems) -- User's Guide for Dryers (DR7)
• Higgins, Anand, Hall and Holmes, Journal of the Textile Institute (2003) -- Effect of Tumble-drying on Selected Properties of Knitted and Woven Cotton Fabrics, Part II: Effect of Moisture Content, Temperature Setting, and Time in Dryer on Cotton Fabrics
• Whirlpool -- Laundry Settings: Washer and Dryer Cycles Explained
• Whirlpool -- Permanent Press vs. Delicate Cycle: The Difference
• Federal Trade Commission -- Clothes Captioning: Complying with the Care Labeling Rule
• Whirlpool -- How long do washers take to wash clothes?
• Maytag -- How Long Does a Washing Machine Take?
• LG Electronics USA -- [LG Front Load Washer] Factors Affecting Wash Cycle Duration
• Consumer Reports -- 5 Things to Know About Front-Load Washers
• LG Electronics USA -- LG Washer - Cycle Time Does Not Change
• U.S. Department of Energy (Federal Register) -- Energy Conservation Program: Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Clothes Washers (direct final rule, March 15, 2024)
• Whirlpool -- Time Displayed Seems Long on my Whirlpool Front Load Washer
• CHOICE (Australia) -- How long are washing machine cycle times?
• ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- Clothes Washers
• Maytag -- How Long Does a Dryer Take To Dry Clothes?
• Whirlpool -- How to dry clothes faster in the dryer
• ENERGY STAR, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- Clothes Dryers
• Alliance Laundry Systems (maker of Speed Queen Commercial and Huebsch) -- Topload Washer Programming manual (Part 204370, 2019)
• Alliance Laundry Systems (maker of Speed Queen Commercial and Huebsch) -- Frontload Washer Programming manual (Part 807870, 2025)
• LaundroMaps directory data -- 13,000+ US laundromat listings, October 2026
• Alliance Laundry Systems (maker of Speed Queen Commercial and Huebsch) -- Dryer Programming manual (Part D514575EN R11, 2025)
• Whirlpool -- Dryer Cycle Guide (W11806141 Rev A)
• Alliance Laundry Systems -- A Legacy of Laundry Leadership (homepage)
• Dexter Laundry -- Model T600 40 lb Capacity Computer Control Coin Washer: Owner's Booklet, Installation & Operation Instructions

Related guides

• How to get wrinkles out without an iron, and how to keep them from setting.